TUESDAY CHALLENGE: IT’S NOT INFORMATION OVERLOAD

Every Friday I receive my copy of the Phoenix Business Journal. Sometime over the weekend I spend about 20 minutes looking at each page and asking myself whether there anything here that I can use to better my business. When I find something I can use, I cut out the article, write my thoughts on how I can use the information, and leave it as an action item for the coming week.

Staying informed of activity in your business community is a necessary part of business growth regardless of the size of your company. In addition to the articles, the annual Book of Lists is one of my most useful resources. I get the name and contact information for hundreds of businesses. This book alone is well worth the $97 annual subscription rate.

Each weekly edition has the latest in business happenings as well as a list of the major businesses in a particular industry. The weekly business edition also contains names of many new businesses that have formed in the past week along with other recorded information.

Your Tuesday Challenge is to either subscribe to the Phoenix Business Journal (or your local Business Journal) and make it part of your weekly reading schedule. If you don’t subscribe, make a point to review the most current edition at your local library or elsewhere to see the value it provides.

Like any other tool, there is a learning curve on how to take the most advantage of the information offered. Learning how to approach a business owner you have not met before may take some creative thinking. When I find an owner I would like to meet I first go to my data base and ask if anyone can make an introduction. I look up the person’s profile on LinkedIn, and that usually gives me more clues on how to connect. I also use my social media contacts to ask for an introduction. Don’t forget to reach out to the BizQuack Community to see if they know someone you are trying to reach.

All Tuesday Challenges are an important part of growing a successful business. Your ongoing challenge is to accept the challenge and to act on it.